Celebrating our healthcare graduates in the Year of the Nurse and Midwife

YEAR OF THE NURSE AND THE MIDWIFE

The World Health Assembly designated 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in honour of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. At the time, no one could have predicted that in the same year they were being honoured, nurses and midwives would face one of the most challenging years in the history of healthcare. Nurses and midwives make up the largest numbers of the NHS workforce. We have been training nurses and midwives at Salford since 1995 and we are proud to have produced a great number of healthcare professionals over the years, who selflessly provide care and comfort to those who need it most all over the world. To mark this important date, the School of Health & Society invited Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, Professor Dame Donna Kinnair DBE, to deliver a special online lecture about how nurses and midwives have made a difference this year, as well as insights into her incredible career. Donna told the audience: “I could never imagine that I was going to be as proud of nursing as I am today. I used to be asked, what does a nurse do. Well, people certainly know now.”

Dame Donna Kinnair DBE “The Year of the Nurse and the Midwife provides a great opportunity to reflect upon the vital contribution of our fantastic colleagues and their impact over many decades, not least during the current global health crisis. The profession continues to evolve and we must remain focussed on the future in order to recruit, train and retain the increasing numbers of staff that we desperately need, ensuring that nursing and midwifery are seen as the accessible and positive career options that they are.”

Hilary Garratt CBE, BSc, MSc, RGN, SCPHN (RHV), PGCE - Director of Nursing in NHS England and Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England and Honorary Graduate

"It is especially important to celebrate the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife 2020, as this year more than ever, nurses and midwives have impacted on the lives of so many people. I am proud of the skills, the commitment and expertise demonstrated by our nursing profession. As a nurse myself, I have always considered it a privilege to be able to support people at what are some of the most critical moments of their lives, no matter what the challenge is that they face."

Roger Spencer MBA, Salford Alumnus and Chief Executive, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

At Salford, we are one of the one of the largest providers of nursing, midwifery and allied health professional education programmes in the UK, known for our track record of collaborating with a wide range of industry partners across health and social care to produce highly skilled graduates with real work experience. In recognition of the hard work and outstanding impact of our graduates, staff and students, we have commissioned a special commemorative badge in honour of International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. This badge is available to all of our nursing and midwifery graduates. To request yours, please email alumni@salford.ac.uk

STUDENT NURSES TELL OF THEIR EXPERIENCES ON THE FRONTLINE

As the NHS continues to manage the impact of the coronavirus, our nursing students worked at the heart of the health care response.

Kerry Cain is a second-year student nurse and mother to four their lives and are not able to see their relatives. But I know I have tried my utmost in caring for these patients during

children – three of whom still live at home. Alongside charity work, and setting up her own sewing business, Kerry also worked 40+ hours in A&E to support the NHS during the pandemic. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I thrive off being busy and get great satisfaction helping patients on placement and at work. I think keeping busy is my coping mechanism.” When the pandemic started, Kerry spent a shift holding a patient’s hand as he passed away. “I am proud to be the one that has comforted and soothed someone in their final hours and minutes and I know I do it well and with respect , the way I would want someone to do it for me or my loved ones. This pandemic hasn’t changed any of that for me.”

Nathan Harrison, a second-year student nurse, worked across A&E departments in Greater Manchester. He was responsible for screening suspected COVID-19 patients and ensuring they have access to relevant care when needed.

Nathan also wanted to make sure his fellow student nurses were well supported. The University of Salford’s nursing society, which Nathan helps to run, created a central online site for all students to access information and guidance to support their practice and to ensure that they kept safe, as well as Nathan said, “It feels amazing to be a part of the COVID-19 response as a student nurse and to make a real contribution to overcoming the pandemic.”

Aisha Hussein is currently in the third year of her children's nursing degree and was recently shortlisted in the category of ‘Student Nurse of the Year: Children’ at the prestigious Student Nursing Times Awards. Aisha worked as a Health Support Worker in her local A&E department, dealing with potential and confirmed cases of coronavirus. She told us she had experienced swabbing patients and NHS staff to test for the virus, as well as assisting nurses and other healthcare professionals in caring for patients with the condition. Aisha said: “At times it has been a heart-breaking and terrifying experience; some days I go home and cry myself to sleep. I have had to care for patients that are fighting for sharing best practice and motivational stories.

this time, making them feel comfortable, and updating their relatives when appropriate. “I am so grateful that I am qualifying as a nurse during a time like this and that I have had the opportunity to help during this crisis."